AARP: New Report Shows How States Can Help Prevent Abuse of Older Americans

A new report by AARP's Public Policy Institute (PPI) identifies effective practices for monitoring court-appointed adult guardians, reducing the chances for abuses that occur when oversight is lax.

Conducted with the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Law and Aging, the report follows a 2006 AARP survey showing that a large number of state courts around the country fail to assign a monitor to visit vulnerable individuals under guardianship, leaving many Americans open to physical neglect and financial abuse.  The 2006 survey also found that, in many jurisdictions, no one verifies the information in guardianship reports.

Recent news reports show that elder abuse is increasing, while the aging of the population means more Americans are likely to need court appointed guardians late in life.

The new AARP report examines innovative practices to improve guardianship oversight in jurisdictions around the country.  Specifically, it highlights programs some states have adopted to audit guardianships, track case status, and resolve problems facing many wards, as well as apply sanctions when abuse is revealed.

A full copy of the AARP-ABA report, titled "Guarding the Guardians:  Promising Practices for Court Monitoring" at http://www.aarp.org/ppi.